Anonymous
07/07/2025 23:22
Subject: If you lost your job...
He needs to reach out to headhunters if his contacts aren't proving fruitful.
Anonymous
07/07/2025 23:12
Subject: If you lost your job...
I'm sorry OP. I have no great advice but just wanted to share some sympathy as well as positivity. I know a number of people whose careers (or family members' careers) have been upended by the recent USG turmoil and related fallout. It's encouraging to see how many have found new opportunities without too long of a disruption. Many of them seem to have landed in the tech sector which was not even an option when they began their careers. I know that's not the case for everyone but it can be true that a door opens when another one closes. Fingers crossed that is true for your DH. Good luck!
Anonymous
07/07/2025 22:39
Subject: If you lost your job...
Anonymous wrote:OP, take heart. My husband was laid off at the height of the pandemic. He did over 100 interviews before finally landing a good but lower paying job.
A little over a year into that job, he was contacted by a recruiter for another company and was offered double his salary. That new company has performed so well, I mean mind-blowingly well, that we will basically never have to worry about finances again.
I pray that God leads your husband down a path of prosperity. It may initially come in the form of a reduction but keep faith.
Wow, I love this story. A good reminder that when one door closes, others open. The important thing is to open the door!
Anonymous
07/07/2025 22:22
Subject: If you lost your job...
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How did your spouse help support you? My husband lost his job and it's hitting him really, really hard. He's early 50s and he has never faced total unemployment before. Contacts/his network is coming up empty. I suspect this will be a tough road.
We've built a great life together but things are looking so damn bleak right now. Our kids still have a long way to go before college. My current job is flexible but doesn't offer benefits so I'm applying to everything I can. Beyond the actionable steps, like cutting costs, searching for a better job for myself etc., how do I emotionally support my husband when I'm trying to hold back tears 24/7?
Give me advice, hopeful stories or just good vibes and prayers, I'll take it all.
BTW he should be job hunting 12 hours a day minimum. He is like milk on a hot day sitting on the counter at his age.
Oh shut up. Spending a greater number of hours doesn't mean that he will find a job--there are diminishing returns to scale.
OP, I'm sorry this has happened to your spouse. I think you can encourage your spouse to think more flexibly about what works for him at this age and level of experience. My DOGEd spouse found a consulting gig, and while we miss the stability of a government salary, short term engagements can be interesting.
Anonymous
07/07/2025 22:11
Subject: If you lost your job...
OP, take heart. My husband was laid off at the height of the pandemic. He did over 100 interviews before finally landing a good but lower paying job.
A little over a year into that job, he was contacted by a recruiter for another company and was offered double his salary. That new company has performed so well, I mean mind-blowingly well, that we will basically never have to worry about finances again.
I pray that God leads your husband down a path of prosperity. It may initially come in the form of a reduction but keep faith.
A little over a year into that job, he was contacted by a recruiter for another company and was offered double his salary. That new company has performed so well, I mean mind-blowingly well, that we will basically never have to worry about finances again.
I pray that God leads your husband down a path of prosperity. It may initially come in the form of a reduction but keep faith.
Anonymous
07/07/2025 22:08
Subject: If you lost your job...
Anonymous wrote:How did your spouse help support you? My husband lost his job and it's hitting him really, really hard. He's early 50s and he has never faced total unemployment before. Contacts/his network is coming up empty. I suspect this will be a tough road.
We've built a great life together but things are looking so damn bleak right now. Our kids still have a long way to go before college. My current job is flexible but doesn't offer benefits so I'm applying to everything I can. Beyond the actionable steps, like cutting costs, searching for a better job for myself etc., how do I emotionally support my husband when I'm trying to hold back tears 24/7?
Give me advice, hopeful stories or just good vibes and prayers, I'll take it all.
Be willing to take a pay cut and/or be willing to move beyond the obvious of continue to network and apply.
Anonymous
07/07/2025 21:12
Subject: If you lost your job...
Anonymous wrote:There is so much work out there. If he is one of those people not willing to do a job available, I wouldn't shed a tear.
How did he not prepare for this?
One wants to cry and the other is hit hard by unemployment. Both of you need to toughen up. He has had a very nice work life up to now and so have you if something so small is so hard.
Yikes, has life never hit you with a gut punch? Do we have a lot to be grateful for, yes, but my husband just lost his job, him feeling like shit and me crying while figuring out how to regroup seems like an appropriate response. Thanks to the other posters for constructive responses, much appreciated.
Anonymous
07/07/2025 21:00
Subject: If you lost your job...
Anonymous wrote:Our neighbors are going through this right now and my DH and I have spent some time talking through a strategy. He’s a fed so nothing is off the table.
I did get a better job. That takes pressure off.
Give him a certain amount of time to mourn. Two weeks? Three weeks? Whatever works. He should still be applying but can otherwise loaf around. He needs to apply for unemployment. Then after his mourning period, he needs to get a part time job, no matter the pay. Even if it just covers groceries, that’s something. And I unscientifically believe that job begets job.
Tell everyone. My neighbors have been too ashamed (smh) to tell anyone and the DH is missing countless referrals and options. Don’t let ego get in the way. A lower paid job for a y can turn into something else.
You got this!
This is all good advice, thank you.
Anonymous
07/07/2025 21:00
Subject: If you lost your job...
Anonymous wrote:Take this time to get his health in order, walk outside in the sun, cook yourselves healthy meals and enjoy the kids. We are more than just being slave to people like bezos.
I can appreciate this. Unfortunately despite saving all we can, early retirement with kids just isn't in the cards but we will try to do more of this with the extra time we have together.
Anonymous
07/07/2025 16:56
Subject: If you lost your job...
Anonymous wrote:There is so much work out there. If he is one of those people not willing to do a job available, I wouldn't shed a tear.
How did he not prepare for this?
One wants to cry and the other is hit hard by unemployment. Both of you need to toughen up. He has had a very nice work life up to now and so have you if something so small is so hard.
Disagree. They are wise to realize this could be a tough road.
Anonymous
07/07/2025 16:54
Subject: If you lost your job...
There is so much work out there. If he is one of those people not willing to do a job available, I wouldn't shed a tear.
How did he not prepare for this?
One wants to cry and the other is hit hard by unemployment. Both of you need to toughen up. He has had a very nice work life up to now and so have you if something so small is so hard.
How did he not prepare for this?
One wants to cry and the other is hit hard by unemployment. Both of you need to toughen up. He has had a very nice work life up to now and so have you if something so small is so hard.
Anonymous
07/07/2025 16:04
Subject: If you lost your job...
Anonymous wrote:How did your spouse help support you? My husband lost his job and it's hitting him really, really hard. He's early 50s and he has never faced total unemployment before. Contacts/his network is coming up empty. I suspect this will be a tough road.
We've built a great life together but things are looking so damn bleak right now. Our kids still have a long way to go before college. My current job is flexible but doesn't offer benefits so I'm applying to everything I can. Beyond the actionable steps, like cutting costs, searching for a better job for myself etc., how do I emotionally support my husband when I'm trying to hold back tears 24/7?
Give me advice, hopeful stories or just good vibes and prayers, I'll take it all.
BTW he should be job hunting 12 hours a day minimum. He is like milk on a hot day sitting on the counter at his age.
Anonymous
07/07/2025 16:04
Subject: If you lost your job...
Our neighbors are going through this right now and my DH and I have spent some time talking through a strategy. He’s a fed so nothing is off the table.
I did get a better job. That takes pressure off.
Give him a certain amount of time to mourn. Two weeks? Three weeks? Whatever works. He should still be applying but can otherwise loaf around. He needs to apply for unemployment. Then after his mourning period, he needs to get a part time job, no matter the pay. Even if it just covers groceries, that’s something. And I unscientifically believe that job begets job.
Tell everyone. My neighbors have been too ashamed (smh) to tell anyone and the DH is missing countless referrals and options. Don’t let ego get in the way. A lower paid job for a y can turn into something else.
You got this!
I did get a better job. That takes pressure off.
Give him a certain amount of time to mourn. Two weeks? Three weeks? Whatever works. He should still be applying but can otherwise loaf around. He needs to apply for unemployment. Then after his mourning period, he needs to get a part time job, no matter the pay. Even if it just covers groceries, that’s something. And I unscientifically believe that job begets job.
Tell everyone. My neighbors have been too ashamed (smh) to tell anyone and the DH is missing countless referrals and options. Don’t let ego get in the way. A lower paid job for a y can turn into something else.
You got this!
Anonymous
07/07/2025 16:00
Subject: If you lost your job...
Take this time to get his health in order, walk outside in the sun, cook yourselves healthy meals and enjoy the kids. We are more than just being slave to people like bezos.
Anonymous
07/07/2025 15:51
Subject: If you lost your job...
How did your spouse help support you? My husband lost his job and it's hitting him really, really hard. He's early 50s and he has never faced total unemployment before. Contacts/his network is coming up empty. I suspect this will be a tough road.
We've built a great life together but things are looking so damn bleak right now. Our kids still have a long way to go before college. My current job is flexible but doesn't offer benefits so I'm applying to everything I can. Beyond the actionable steps, like cutting costs, searching for a better job for myself etc., how do I emotionally support my husband when I'm trying to hold back tears 24/7?
Give me advice, hopeful stories or just good vibes and prayers, I'll take it all.
We've built a great life together but things are looking so damn bleak right now. Our kids still have a long way to go before college. My current job is flexible but doesn't offer benefits so I'm applying to everything I can. Beyond the actionable steps, like cutting costs, searching for a better job for myself etc., how do I emotionally support my husband when I'm trying to hold back tears 24/7?
Give me advice, hopeful stories or just good vibes and prayers, I'll take it all.